38-2530. Physical agent modalities; certification required.

(1) In order to apply physical agent modalities, an occupational therapist shall be certified pursuant to this section. The department shall issue a certificate to an occupational therapist to administer a physical agent modality if the occupational therapist:

(a) Has successfully completed a training course approved by the board and passed an examination approved by the board on the physical agent modality;

(b) Is certified as a hand therapist by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission or other equivalent entity recognized by the board;

(c) Has a minimum of five years of experience in the use of the physical agent modality and has passed an examination approved by the board on the physical agent modality; or

(d) Has completed education during a basic educational program which included demonstration of competencies for application of the physical agent modality.

(2) The department shall issue a certificate to authorize an occupational therapy assistant to set up and implement treatment using superficial thermal agent modalities if the occupational therapy assistant has successfully completed a training course approved by the board and passed an examination approved by the board. Such set up and implementation shall only be done under the onsite supervision of an occupational therapist certified to administer superficial thermal agent modalities.

(3) An occupational therapist shall not delegate evaluation, reevaluation, treatment planning, and treatment goals for physical agent modalities to an occupational therapy assistant.

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